Dispensing container



Oct. 15, 1935. c. s. ANDREWS DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR dlrlf1l 5. fl/m 'rz/w Ml ATTORNEY Get. 15, 1935. ANDREWS 2,017,176

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 14, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Oct. 15, 1935. c. ANl DREWS 2,017,176

DISPENSING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 14, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR (fin/ M 51 flimr/uzy ATTORNEY C. S. ANDREWS DISPENSII IG CONTAINER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 14, 1931 INVENTOR ffiairijfk 5 fllmrezas ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 15, 1935 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 ,01'I,1'l6 PISPENSING CONTAINER Champe S. Andrews, North Chattanooga, Tenn. Application Dec'einber 14, 1931, Serial No. 580,751 Claims. (01. 229- 11) This invention relates to a dispensing container in which absorbent cotton or other merchandise may be packed and fully protected against contamination, exposure and foreign matter and 5 from which it can be conveniently dispensed when material is desired for use.

Absorbent cotton has generally been packed in containers which leave the cotton exposed to the atmosphere and foreign matter, greatly increasing the danger of contamination and infection. Absorbent cotton dispensers heretofore used which do protect the contents to some extent have all been very expensive to make, the cost of the container often being more than thecost of the contents.

by providing a dispensing container of paper material which can be made by automatic machinery now in use at a very little cost. The com tainer can be made from a single blank of paper material cut by automatic machinery to the proper shape and then folded and cemented together by a folding and gluing machine.

An object of my invention is to provide a container in which material can be packed and shipped and from which the material packed therein can be dispensed in an efllcient and attractive manner with full protection to the con-' .tents against exposure, contamination or foreign matter at all times.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dispensing container particularly adapted to dispense absorbentcottonwhich fully protects and safeguards the material contained therein against foreign matter and contamination, which 35 is fullyclosed when not in use and which can be opened to permit access to the dispensing medium from which the cotton is dispensed when desired for use.

Another object of my invention is to provide a dispensing container which is economical to manufacture, which fully protects the contents at all times, which is'sturdy and strong in construction, and which can be made in a variety of attractive designs and patterns. Other objects of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which I have met this problem packed therein;

Fig. 6 is a cutout blank oi modified form from 15 which the body portion and dispensing portion of the container may be made;

Fig. 7 shows a cutout blank from which the cover portion of the container formed from the blank shown in Figure 6 may be made;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the completed container formed from the blank shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the cover portion being raised from the body portion thereof? Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the cover portion 25 of the container shown in Figure 8 as it appears in the process of assembly:

Fig. 10 is a perspective view 01' the body portion and dispensing portion of the container as formed from the blank shown in Figure 6;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a container of further modified form, the body portion and cover portion of this container being formed from a single blank with the dispensing portion as a separate unit inserted therein, the dispensing por- 35 tion being shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a separate dispensing portion adapted to fit within the body portion of the container shown in Figure 11;

Fig. 13 shows a cutout blank from which the 4 dispensing portion shown in Figure 12 may be made;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the dispensing portion or unit of the container in the processof assembly; 46

Fig. 15 i a'perspective view'of the dispensing unit completely assembled, certain parts being broken away to illustrate more particularly the construction; 1

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the dispens- 5 ing container as completely assembled; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a modified form of dispensing unit which is provided with a collarportion adapted to rest on the bottom of the container.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawmgs.

I have shown in Fig. 1 a blank from which my dispensing container may be made. The blank generally comprises the body forming portion B, a dispensing forming portion D, and a cover forming portion C. The body forming portion B comprises rear wall 20, front wall 2| and end walls 22 and 23, all'hinged together along the score lines 24. In assembling the container a flap 25 hinged to-the rear wall 2| along the score line 26 is cemented or otherwise secured to the free edge of the side wall 22, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Bottom flaps 21 are hinged respectively to the front wall 2|, rear wall 20 and side walls 22 and 23 along the score lines 28. The bottom flaps 21 are folded inwardly, P sitioned in superimposed relationship and cemented together to form the bottom wall of the container.

The dispensing medium D is shaped in the form of a box and comprises a top or dispensing wall 29 which may be hinged along the score line 30 to the top edge of the front wall 2| of the container. The bottom or guiding wall 3| is connected to and held spaced from the dispensing wall 29 bythe side wall 32 defined by the score lines 33 and 4|. A front flap 38 hinged to the guiding wall 3| along the score line 39 and side flaps 40 hinged to the dispensing wall 29 along the score lines 4| may be folded inwardly to complete the dispensing 'medium; The dispensing medium as thus formed comprises a separate cell or unit hinged to the top edge of the body portion, as shown in Fig. 2. Cement X or other securing means may be placed on the side wall 32 to connect the free edge of the dispensing medium to the rear wall 20 of the container and thus maintain the dispensing medium in proper position.

In packing the container the absorbent cotton K, in rope form as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, is coiled One within the body portion of the container. end of the cotton rope is threaded through an enlarged guiding aperture 31 in the bottom or guiding wall 3| and up through a small dispens ing aperture 34 in the top or dispensing wall 29. A plurality of fingers 35 formed by cutting radiating slits 36 in the dispensing wall 29 extend from and surround the dispensing aperture 34. The fingers 35 are resilient and may be pulled upwardly by the cotton rope as it is drawn through the dispensing aperture. The resilient fingers 35, however, hold the protruding end of the cotton rope and prevent it from slipping out of the dispensing aperture and dropping into the container where it cannot be reached. The guiding aperture 31 directs the cotton rope into dispensing position so that the rope moves through the dispensing aperture in a vertical direction and prevents binding of the rope against the resilient fingers 35 as it passes through the'contracted dispensing aperture.

The rear wall 20 of the body portion is' provided with an extension portion 42 which extends a slightdistance above the top of thefront wall 2| and side walls 22 and 23 for a purpose hereafter described. The cover portion C of the container comprises a top wall portion 43 hinged to the extension portion 42 along the score line 44. The cover portion is provided with side flanges 45 hinged to the top wall 43 along the score lines 46. The front flange 48 of the cover is hinged to the top wall 43 along the score line 49. Tab portions 41 hinged to the side flaps 45 may be folded inwardly and glued to the in-" side face of the front flange 48 in a well known manner. The lining flaps 50 are then folded inwardly and glued to the inside face of the side flanges 45 andin the same manner the lining flap 5| is folded inwardly and glued to the inside flange of the front flange 48. A complete cover for the container formed integral with the body portion is thus provided.

It will be noted that when the container is filled with cotton rope ready to be dispensed the end of the cotton rope extends a short distance above the dispensing wall 29 to permit the end to be grasped. 'The extension portion 42 of the rear wall is provided to raise the top wall 43 of the cover portion C above the dispensing wall 29 and prevent the cover from being jammed down over the end of the cotton rope which projects above the dispensing wall 29. The side 20 flanges 45 and the front flap 48 of the cover are arranged to telescope over the outside face of the sidewalls 22 and 23 and the front wall 2| of the container, as shown in Fig. 5. To this end the score lines 46 and 49 in the cover portion are offset outwardly with respect to the score lines 24 defining the corners of the body portion and when the cover is assembled it will be of sufficient size to telescope over the front and side walls of the body-portion as shown.

If desired, the cover of the container, may be formed in a separate piece. I have shown in' Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and '10 a dispensing container of this design. The blankshown in Fig. 6 of the drawings forms the body portion B and the dispensing portion D of the container which 'are identically the same as shown in Fig. 1

of the drawings with one exception. Where the parts are identical, however, same reference characters have been used and it is believed unnecessary to further describe them. The difference between the blanks shown in Figs. 6 and 1 resides in the connecting collar portion 10 provided between the dispensing portion D and the body portion B of Figure 6 which is not shown in Fig. 1. The collar portion 10 permits the top wall 29 of the dispensing unit to be raised above the top edge of the body portion so that the upper part of the unit forms a collar over which the cover member telescopes. A strip 1|, the 50 width of which is approximately the thickness of the side walls of the body portion, and defined from the front wall 2| and the top wall '29 by the score lines 12, provides a shoulder against which the cover flange is adapted to seat. The cover member C| may be formed from a blank, as shown in Fig. 7, comprising the top wall portions 13 and the flange portions 14 hinged to 'the respective top wall portions 13 along the score lines 15. In assembling the cover mem- 50 bar, the flanges 14 'are bent into tubular form with the tab portion 16 cemented or otherwise secured to the free edge of the flange at the opposite end of the blank, as clearly shown in Fig. 9. The top wall portions 13 are then folded inwardly in superimposed relationship and cemented together to form the top wall of the cover member. The cover member thus completely formed is shown in Fig. 8 and is of such size as to telescope over the projecting part of the dispensing medium, with the free edge of the flanges 14 seating upon the top edge of the front, rear and side walls of the body portion. As another possible modification, the cover member may be formed integral with the body 15 portion of the container and the dispensing medium may be formed as a separate unit. I have shown in Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 a dispensing medium thus constructed. The body portion B in Figure 11 and Figure 1 are identical, carry the same reference characters and will not be further described. The cover portion shown in Figure 11 is identical to the cover member CI shown in Figure '7 except that one of the flanges of the cover portion 14 is integral with the rear wall 20 of the body portion and hinged thereto along the score line I8. In the construction shown in Figure 11 the rear wall 20 of the body portion is the same height as the front wall 2| and side walls 22 and 23, the extension portion 42 having been eliminated.

The separate dispensing unit comprises a top or dispensing wall and a bottom or guiding wall 8I held in spaced relationship by the connecting side wall 82 defined by the score lines 83. In forming the dispensing unit, the end flange 9| hinged to the bottom wall BI along the score line 92 is cemented or otherwise secured to the end flange 85 hinged to the top wall along the score line 88, as shown in Figs. 14.- and 15. Tab portions 80 hinged to the connecting side wall 82 are turned inwardly and are glued to the outside face of the side walls 89 which are hinged to the bottom wall 8| along the score line 90. The tab portions 81 hinged to the flange 85 are likewise cemented to the outside face of the flange 89 and as the final operation, the side flanges 83' are cemented to the respective flanges 89 and the tabs 81 and 88. The dispensing unit or cell is telescoped into the body portion of the container and it is preferably glued in fixed position so that a part thereof extends above the top edge of the body, as shown in Figure 11. The cover portion CI then telescopes over the projecting portion .of the dispensing unit and rests upon the top edge of the body member when the cover is closed. That part of the dispensing unit which projects above the body portion forms a collar which guides the cover portion into closing position and also frictionally engages the cover member to hold the same in closed position.

I have shown in Figs. 16 and 1'? a possible fourth modification of my dispensing container.

I terial, as shown in Fig. 17, and comprises the usual dispensing wall 29, guiding wall 3|, connecting side wall 32, side flanges 40 and front flange 39, as heretofore described in connection with dispensing me dium shown in Figure 1.

Now the top wall 29 of the dispensing unit shown in Figure 17 is formed integral with and hinged to a wall portion I00 along the score line IN. The side walls I02, I03 and I04 are all formed from the same blank as the rear wall I00, top wall 29, and bottom wall 3| above described. The side walls I00, I02, I03 and I04 are defined by score lines I05 which form the corners of the unit. The side walls are bent into tubular form and'the unit assembled. A flap I08 hinged to the rear wall I00 along the score line I01 is cemented or otherwise secured to the free edge of the side wall I04, as shown in Figure 1'7. The dispensing unit thus constructed telescopes into the body portion of the container, as shown in Figure 16.

projects a short distance above the top edge of 5 the body portion of the container, as shown in Figure 16. The top portion of the dispensing unit thus forms a cover which guides the cover portion CI into seating position on the body portion and also frictionally engages the cover to hold the same in closed position. The lower edge of the side walls I00, I02, I03 and I04 of the dispensing unit preferably rest on the bottom wall of the container. These side walls greatly reinforce and strengthen the body portion and the container as 15 a whole.

It is now seen that I have provided a dispensing container formed from paper blanks which can be stamped out by automatic machines now in use. There is very little waste of paper mate- 2 rial resulting from the cutting operation in making my container since the blanks are substantially rectangular. The blanks can be folded and assembled on automatic folding and gluing machines. The entire container can thus be produced automatically at a fraction of the cost of dispensing containers of this type now in use. It is evident that the dispensing container here shown may be used for dispensing materials other than absorbent cotton and I contemplate using 30 my dispensing container to dispense other materials and other articles of merchandise. The materials packed therein are fully protected from exposure and contamination at all times and the container can be made in any number of attractive shapes and designs to accommodate a variety of uses.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and a dispens ing medium formed from a single blank of sheet material, said dispensing medium including a top wall andside walls, said side walls having a part which extends into and is secured to the open end of said body portion and another part which extends outside said body portion to form a collar, and a cover adapted to telescope over said collar forming part.

2. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and a dispensing medium formed from a single blank of sheet material, said dispensing medium including a top wall and side walls, said side walls having a part on which extends into and is secured to the open end of said body portion and another part which extends outside said body portion to form a collar, and a cover comprising a top wall and side flanges, said cover being adapted to telescope over 55 said collar forming part with the side flanges resting on the top edge of the body portion when the cover is in closed position.

3. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and a dispens- 70 ing medium formed from a single blank of sheet material, said dispensing medium having a top wall hinged to said body portion, a. slit dispensing aperture in said top wall, and side walls having a portion thereof telescoped into the body 75 portion and a portion which extends outside said body portion to form a cover-receiving collar.

4. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and a dispensing medium formed from a single blank of sheet material, said dispensing medium having a top wall hinged to said body portion along the top edge thereof, a slit dispensing aperture in said top wall, a bottom wall connected to said top wall along a free edge thereof, a guiding aperture in said bottom wall, side walls connecting said top and bottom walls, retaining the same in fixed spaced relationship.

5. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and a dispensing medium formed from a single blank of sheet material, said dispensing medium having atop wall hinged to said body portion along the top edge thereof, a slit dispensing aperture in said top wall, a hinge portion connecting said top wall to said bottom portion, said hinge portion comprising hinge parts, one of said parts extending inwardly into the container, and the other part extending upwardly outside said body portion to form a cover-receiving guide.

6. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and 'a dispensing medium formed from a single blank. of sheet material, said dispensing medium having a top wall hinged to said body portion along the top edge thereof, said top wall being of suflicient area to cover the open top of said body portion, flanges connected to said top wall having a part which extends into and is secured to the open end of said body portion and another part which extends outside said body portion to form a collar, and means for securing said flanges to the body portion.

7. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and a dispensing medium, said dispensing medium having a top wall, a slit dispensingaperture in said top wall, said top wall being of sufflcient area to cover the open top 01' said body portion, side walls connected to said top wall, means for rigidly secur-, ing said side walls to said body portion, a bottom wall connected to said side walls retaining said 5 bottom wall substantially parallel to said top wall and a guiding aperture in said bottom wall.

8. A dispensing container of the character described comprising a body portion and a dispensing medium, said dispensing medium being so arranged as to telescope into the open end of said body portion, said dispensing medium comprising top, bottom and side walls, a slit dispensing aperture in the top wall and a guiding aperture in the bottom wall thereof, said side walls connecting and retaining said top and bottom walls in fixed spaced relationship.

.9. A dispensing containerof the character described comprising a body portion and a dispensing medium formed from a single blank of sheet material, said dispensing medium including a top wall and side walls, said side walls having a part which extends into and is secured to the open end of said body portion and another part which extendsoutside said body portion to form a collar, a cover adapted to telescope over said dispensing medium, and means for maintaining the cover spaced from the top wall of the dispensing medium when the cover is in closed position.

10. A'dispensing container of the character described, comprising a body portion and a dispensing medium, said dispensing medium including a top wall and side walls, said side walls having a part which extends into the open end of said body portion, and another part which extends v outside said body portion to form a collar, a. cover adapted to telescope over said dispensing medium, and means for maintaining said cover spaced from the top wall of the dispensing medium when the cover is in closed position.

CHAMPE s. ANDREWS. 

